Configurable exercise device and method

ABSTRACT

A device is described which can be placed on the ground in one of several orientations, where each orientation presents steps of different heights to the user. One device has triangular shaped ends which provide three orientations for placing on the ground. Each orientation presents one or two steps parallel to the ground for exercising. A user may thus easily change the device to different step heights by changing the orientation of the device on the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a device and method forexercising, and more particularly to a device, and method of using adevice, which can be placed in multiple orientations on the ground andwhich present steps of various heights for user to exercise on.

Discussion of the Background

It is common for exercises to include a climbing motion by presentingthe user with one or more steps. Thus, for example, there are many stepdevices on the market that can provide steps of different heights. Ingeneral, such devices either have fixed step height or may includepieces that allow for the devices to present steps of different heightsto the user.

While the use of such devices is convenient, they are not readilyadaptable for presented varying degrees of exercise to a user—the stepsare either fixed or are not easily modifiable.

Thus there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus that permitsfor user to quickly, and without mechanical skills, select steps forexercising. Such a method and apparatus should be easy to use, not haveany moving parts, and should not take up a lot of space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior art by usinga device that may be placed on the floor in different orientations,where each orientation presents steps of different heights to the user

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide an exercise devicehaving several orientations for placing on the ground. The exercisedevice includes: a first end having planar edges and a second end havingplanar edges, where a first planar edge of the first end and a firstplanar edge of the second end define a first plane, where a secondplanar edge of the first end and a second planar edge of the second enddefine a second plane, where a first planar edge of the first end and afirst planar edge of the second end define a third plane. The exercisedevice also includes one or more elongated members each connected to thefirst end and the second end and having one or more first surfacesparallel to the first plane, one or more second surfaces parallel to thesecond plane, and one or more third surfaces parallel to the thirdplane. The three orientations of the device on the ground are 1) a firstorientation with the first planar edges of the first end and the secondend on the ground, each of the one or more first surfaces is at acorresponding distance from the ground, 2) a second orientation with thesecond planar edges of the first end and the second end on the ground,each of the one or more second surfaces is at a corresponding distancefrom the ground, and 3) a third orientation with the third planar edgesof the first end and the second end on the ground, each of the one ormore third surfaces is at a corresponding distance from the ground.

In one embodiment, the first orientation provides steps at distances ofapproximately 4 inches and approximately 20 inches above the ground. Inanother embodiment, the second orientation provides a step with thirddistance is approximately 12 inches above the ground. In yet anotherembodiment, the third orientation provides steps at distances ofapproximately 8 inches and approximately 16 inches above the ground.

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide an exercise devicehaving several orientations for placing on the ground. The exercisedevice includes: a first end; a second end; and one or more elongatedmembers connected to the first end and the second end. The first end andthe second end each have first planar edge portions for placing theexercise device in a first orientation on the ground, second planar edgeportions for placing the exercise device in a second orientation on theground, and third planar edge portions for placing the exercise devicein a third orientation on the ground. When the exercise device is placedin a first orientation on the ground, the one or more elongated membershave one or more first surfaces parallel to and at a distance from theground. When the exercise device is placed in a second orientation onthe ground, the one or more elongated members have one or more secondsurfaces parallel to and at a distance from the ground. When theexercise device is placed in a third orientation on the ground, the oneor more elongated members have one or more third surfaces parallel toand at a distance from the ground.

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a method for a userto exercise using an exercise device having two or more orientations forplacing on the ground. The method includes placing the exercise deviceon the ground in a first orientation, where the exercise device in thefirst orientation has one or more first steps at corresponding distancesfrom the ground; having the user step on the one or more first steps;placing the exercise device on the ground in a second orientation, wherethe exercise device in the second orientation has one or more secondsteps at corresponding distances from the ground; and having the userstep on the one or more second steps.

These features together with the various ancillary provisions andfeatures which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description, are attained by the device and method ofthe present invention, preferred embodiments thereof being shown withreference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of one embodiment of anexercise device having three different configurations for placing on theground;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 is a side view, a sectional view 3-3, and top view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1 in a first orientation on the ground;

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 is a side view, a sectional view 6-6, and top view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1 in a second orientation on the ground;

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 is a side view, a sectional view 9-9, and top view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1 in a third orientation on the ground;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are interior side views, similar to FIG. 9, illustratingone embodiment of the two ends of the step stool of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 13 and 14 are sectional views of alternative views of a stepmember.

Reference symbols are used in the Figures to indicate certaincomponents, aspects or features shown therein, with reference symbolscommon to more than one Figure indicating like components, aspects orfeatures shown therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of one embodiment of anexercise device 100 for placing on the ground G. Exercise device 100 hastwo ends—a first end 101, and a second end 103, and several step members105 connected to and spanning the distance between the first end andsecond end. First end 101 and second end 103 also have holes 102 thatare useful for holding or manipulating exercise device 100. Exercisedevice 100 may be constructed of wood, metal, plastic, or any othermaterial, alone or in combination that is sufficiently strong to supportthe weight of a user on step members 105.

As described subsequently, exercise device 100 has several orientationson which it can be placed on the ground to present steps of variousheights to a user to exercise on. Thus, each orientation presentssurfaces of members 105 at different heights above the ground. Thus, forexample, FIG. 1 illustrates that first end 101 and second end 103 havethe same triangular shape and orientation, and are parallel to eachother, and have edges forming flat surfaces of some thickness which canbe placed on ground G. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, first end 101 has sides101 a, 101 b, and 101 c, and second end has sides 103 a, 103 b, and 103c. In the orientation of FIG. 1, sides 101 a and 103 a are on ground G.

Exercise device 100 may be placed on a flat surface, such as ground G,in one of three orientations: 1) a first orientation 110 shown in FIG. 1and in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, as a side view, a sectional view 3-3, and topview, respectively, with sides 101 a and 103 a on the ground; 2) asecond orientation 120 shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, as a side view, asectional view 6-6, and top view, respectively, with sides 101 b and 103b on the ground; and 2) a third orientation 130 shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and10 as a side view, a sectional view 9-9, and top view, respectively,with sides 101 c and 103 c on the ground. FIGS. 2-10 show step members105 as a first step member 310, a second step member 320, and a thirdstep member 330.

In each orientation 110, 120, or 130, exercise device 100 has a height,h, a depth, d, and a width that is the sum of the length, w, of members310, 320, and 330 and the thickness, t, of each end 101/103. Thecross-sectional shapes of members 310, 320, and 330 are best seen oncross-sectional views 3, 6, and 9. In one embodiment, the thickness ofmembers 310, 320, 330 are the same thickness, t, as ends 101/103. Thecross-sectional shape and placement of members 310, 320, 330 are suchthat one or surfaces horizontal to ground G are presented in eachorientation.

In one embodiment, the thickness t=¾″, the width w=19″, the heighth=28″, and the depth d=32.3″.

Each step member 310, 320, and 330 is shaped to have at least onesurface that is parallel to one of sides 101 a/103 a, 101 b/103 b, or101 c/103 c, and to be staggered from the other step members such that auser may step on one or more step members. In one embodiment, members105 are shaped to present one or more surfaces which a user may use as astep. More specifically, members 105 may be shaped to present steps atdifferent heights off the ground, as discussed subsequently.

Thus, for example, in the first orientation 110, illustrated in FIGS.2-4, step member 310 has a step surface 311 which is parallel to sides101 a/103 a, and thus to the ground, G, in this orientation at a heighth1=4″, and step member 330 has a step surface 331 which is also parallelto sides 101 a/103 a, and thus to the ground in this orientation at aheight h2=20″. As is best viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, a user may thus stepon step surface 311 or 331. In one embodiment, the depth of each surface311 and 331 is at least 3 inches, and may be approximately 6 inches.

In the second orientation 120, illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, step member 320has a step surface 321 which is parallel to sides 101 b/103 b, and thusto the ground, G, in this orientation at a height h3=12″. As is bestviewed in FIGS. 6 and 7, a user may thus step on step surface 321. Inone embodiment, the depth of surface 321 is large enough to easilysupport a foot of a user. The depth of surface 321 may be at least 3inches, from 3 inches to 12 inches, or may be approximately 6 inches.

In the third orientation 130, illustrated in FIGS. 8-10, step member 330has a step surface 331 which is parallel to sides 101 c/103 c, and thusto the ground, G, in this orientation at a height h4=8″, and step member320 has a step surface 322 which is also parallel to sides 101 c/103 c,and thus to the ground in this orientation at a height h5=16″. As isbest viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, a user may thus step on step surface 333or 331. In one embodiment, the depth of each surface 333 and 331 is atleast 3 inches, and may be approximately 6 inches.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are interior side views, similar to FIG. 9, illustratingone embodiment of the two ends of the step stool of FIG. 1. FIGS. 11 and12 show matching dados 1031/1013, 1033/1011 and 1032/1012.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are sectional views of alternative views of a stepmember. FIG. 13 is one embodiment of a step member 1320, which may befor example step member 320 or 330. Step member 1320 is formed from afirst element 1321 and a second element 1323. FIG. 14 is anotherembodiment of a step member 1420, which may be for example step member320 or 330. Step member 1420 is shown as being formed from a singlepiece.

An exercise device such as exercise device 100 is easily used to presentsteps of various heights to the user. The user may, for example, placethe device in one of the orientations for exercising. The user may thenrotate the device to another orientation, and thus have steps ofdifferent heights for exercising.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughoutthis specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, inone or more embodiments.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description ofexemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of theinvention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure,or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosureand aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventiveaspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than allfeatures of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claimsfollowing the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporatedinto this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment of this invention.

Thus, while there has been described what is believed to be thepreferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art willrecognize that other and further modifications may be made theretowithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intendedto claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope ofthe invention. For example, the device may have two orientations, or mayhave more than three orientations on the ground. Each orientation maypresent no surfaces for stepping or may provide one, two, three or moresurfaces for stepping.

I claim:
 1. An exercise device having several orientations for placingon the ground, said exercise device comprising: a first end havingplanar edges and a second end having planar edges, where a first planaredge of said first end and a first planar edge of said second end definea first plane, where a second planar edge of said first end and a secondplanar edge of said second end define a second plane, where a firstplanar edge of said first end and a first planar edge of said second enddefine a third plane; one or more elongated members each connected tosaid first end and said second end and having one or more first surfacesparallel to said first plane, one or more second surfaces parallel tosaid second plane, and one or more third surfaces parallel to said thirdplane, such that: 1) when the exercise device is placed in a firstorientation with said first planar edges of said first end and saidsecond end on the ground, each of said one or more first surfaces is ata corresponding distance from the ground, 2) when the exercise device isplaced in a second orientation with said second planar edges of saidfirst end and said second end on the ground, each of said one or moresecond surfaces is at a corresponding distance from the ground, and 3)when the exercise device is placed in a third orientation with saidthird planar edges of said first end and said second end on the ground,each of said one or more third surfaces is at a corresponding distancefrom the ground.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein, when theexercise device is placed in a first orientation on the ground, said oneor more first surfaces is a first surface at a first distance from theground and a second surface at a second distance from the ground, wheresaid second distance is greater than said first distance.
 3. Theexercise device of claim 2, where said first distance is approximately 4inches, and wherein said second distance is approximately 20 inches. 4.The exercise device of claim 1, wherein, when the exercise device isplaced in a second orientation on the ground, said one or more secondsurfaces is a third surface at a third distance from the ground.
 5. Theexercise device of claim 4, where said third distance is approximately12 inches.
 6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein, when the exercisedevice is placed in a third orientation on the ground, said one or morethird surfaces is a fourth surface at a fourth distance from the grounda fifth surface at a fifth distance from the ground.
 7. The exercisedevice of claim 8, where said fourth distance is approximately 8 inches,and wherein said fifth distance is approximately 16 inches.
 8. Theexercise device of claim 1, wherein when the exercise device is placedin a first orientation on the ground, said one or more first surfaces isa first surface at a first distance from the ground and a second surfaceat a second distance from the ground, where said second distance isgreater than said first distance, and where said first distance isapproximately 4 inches, and wherein said second distance isapproximately 20 inches; when the exercise device is placed in a secondorientation on the ground, said one or more second surfaces is a thirdsurface at a third distance from the ground, where said third distanceis approximately 12 inches; and when the exercise device is placed in athird orientation on the ground, said one or more third surfaces is afourth surface at a fourth distance from the ground a fifth surface at afifth distance from the ground, where said fourth distance isapproximately 8 inches, and wherein said fifth distance is approximately16 inches.
 9. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said first end andsaid second end are triangular and have the same size.
 10. An exercisedevice having several orientations for placing on the ground, saidexercise device comprising: a first end; a second end; and one or moreelongated members connected to said first end and said second end, wheresaid first end and said second end each have first planar edge portionsfor placing said exercise device in a first orientation on the ground,second planar edge portions for placing said exercise device in a secondorientation on the ground, and third planar edge portions for placingsaid exercise device in a third orientation on the ground, where, whenthe exercise device is placed in a first orientation on the ground, saidone or more elongated members have one or more first surfaces parallelto and at a distance from the ground, where, when the exercise device isplaced in a second orientation on the ground, said one or more elongatedmembers have one or more second surfaces parallel to and at a distancefrom the ground, and where, when the exercise device is placed in athird orientation on the ground, said one or more elongated members haveone or more third surfaces parallel to and at a distance from theground.
 11. The exercise device of claim 10, wherein, when the exercisedevice is placed in a first orientation on the ground, said one or morefirst surfaces is a first surface at a first distance from the groundand a second surface at a second distance from the ground, where saidsecond distance is greater than said first distance.
 12. The exercisedevice of claim 11, where said first distance is approximately 4 inches,and wherein said second distance is approximately 20 inches.
 13. Theexercise device of claim 10, wherein, when the exercise device is placedin a second orientation on the ground, said one or more second surfacesis a third surface at a third distance from the ground.
 14. The exercisedevice of claim 13, where said third distance is approximately 12inches.
 15. The exercise device of claim 10, wherein, when the exercisedevice is placed in a third orientation on the ground, said one or morethird surfaces is a fourth surface at a fourth distance from the grounda fifth surface at a fifth distance from the ground.
 16. The exercisedevice of claim 15, where said fourth distance is approximately 8inches, and wherein said fifth distance is approximately 16 inches. 17.The exercise device of claim 10, wherein when the exercise device isplaced in a first orientation on the ground, said one or more firstsurfaces is a first surface at a first distance from the ground and asecond surface at a second distance from the ground, where said seconddistance is greater than said first distance, and where said firstdistance is approximately 4 inches, and wherein said second distance isapproximately 20 inches; when the exercise device is placed in a secondorientation on the ground, said one or more second surfaces is a thirdsurface at a third distance from the ground, where said third distanceis approximately 12 inches; and when the exercise device is placed in athird orientation on the ground, said one or more third surfaces is afourth surface at a fourth distance from the ground a fifth surface at afifth distance from the ground, where said fourth distance isapproximately 8 inches, and wherein said fifth distance is approximately16 inches.
 18. The exercise device of claim 10, wherein said first endand said second end are triangular and have the same size.
 19. A methodfor a user to exercise using an exercise device having two or moreorientations for placing on the ground, said method comprising: placingthe exercise device on the ground in a first orientation, where saidexercise device in said first orientation has one or more first steps atcorresponding distances from the ground; having the user step on saidone or more first steps; placing the exercise device on the ground in asecond orientation, where said exercise device in said secondorientation has one or more second steps at corresponding distances fromthe ground; and having the user step on said one or more second steps.20. The method of claim 19, where said one or more first steps are twosteps at different distances from the ground.
 21. The method of claim19, where said one or more second steps is one step.
 22. The method ofclaim 19 further comprising: placing the exercise device on the groundin a third orientation, where said exercise device in said thirdorientation has one or more second steps at corresponding distances fromthe ground; and having the user step on said one or more third steps.23. The method of claim 17, where said one or more first steps are twosteps at different distances from the ground.